Crab Creek Baptist celebrates its 175th birthday next week

Published: Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 2, 2009 at 5:44 p.m.

Just as they always have, members of Crab Creek Baptist Church will bring covered dishes, special desserts and their loving hearts when the church holds its annual homecoming celebration on Oct. 11.

What will be different this year is the sense of history that also comes with this second Sunday in October.

The church, which sits high on a hill off Crab Creek Road in Henderson County, first came together on Oct. 11, 1834.

Now, 175 years later, Crab Creek Baptist plans to celebrate its big anniversary on the very day the church formed those many years ago.

To mark the anniversary, the congregation has invited two former pastors to speak during two services before feasting on the traditional homecoming meal on the grounds. The day's theme is "To God Be the Glory."

"This church stands on Gospel," says the Rev. Brad Knox, the church's pastor. "That is why this church has stood the test of time."

Knox came to the church about a year ago after spending seven years working with young people at Reynolds Baptist Church in Asheville.

The kind, helpful congregation at Crab Creek made his transition to pastor of the 277-member congregation an easy move.

"The people are who they are," Knox says. "They are not people who put up a front. They love the Lord. They love this church. I believe I have been called here."

Homecomings at Crab Creek are usually packed houses with many members and others in the community attending services and sharing a meal. Knox expects an enthusiastic turnout this year as the church also celebrates its anniversary.

The morning services will include sermons from former pastors, the Rev. Guy Smith and the Rev. Scott Thompson.

Smith led the church for 20 years from 1984 to 2004. Thompson was pastor for about a year, from 2007 to 2008. Knox became the pastor in July 2008.

In the time that he has led the church, Knox has been impressed with the congregation's outreach to the community.

Crab Creek has offered an Awana program for nearly 20 years to its young people, ages 2 through 18. About 70 children from the community now participate in the program.

Awana is based in Chicago and works with churches from 100 denominations. It helps parents and churches throughout the world raise young people to know, love and serve Christ. It does this through fun programs that teach an enduring biblical faith.

While several churches in the area now have Awana, Crab Creek was one of the first in the region to offer the program to young people in the community, Knox says.

Reaching out to others

The church also reaches out to help its neighbors through the Angel Food program that allows people to buy low-cost packages of food once a month.

When church members hear of someone in need in the community, they offer support and assistance in any way they can.

"The church has a long history of being part of the community," Knox says.

In fact, that community spirit at Crab Creek is what first drew Gertrude Miller and her husband, Wyman, to the church shortly after they married in 1963.

"Our life centered around the church. Our family grew up in the church," says Miller, who now works in the church as a secretary.

"I think we are all anchored here because of our faith in Jesus Christ."

After so many years attending the same church with many of the same people she met as a newlywed, Miller says the congregation feels like family.

"You get close to people," she says.

The closeness of the church members is apparent most Sundays when many people stand in the parking lot chatting with one another after services have finished.

Members care about others in the church whether they are longtime members or new visitors, Knox says.

"We want to get to know you," he says. "There is something unique in a church that has close fellowship."

Some history

The church's close fellowship was evident almost from the beginning, according to a history written by Miller.

After organizing in 1834, the church began regular meetings at a new meeting house in Crab Creek in 1854.

The minutes of those early meetings are filled with accounts of members worshiping together, baptizing those making professions of faith and taking care of one another. "The church responded to issues of the day to keep the church family safe and in good fellowship," according to Miller's history.

Concerned for the health of its members, in 1900, the church suspended services and Sunday school for a month because of an outbreak of smallpox.

And over the years, many people have settled disputes with one another using biblical standards rather than courts of law.

The congregation at Crab Creek has proved it will survive despite hardships and inconveniences.

Church members began trying in 1927 to have electricity installed in the church. But right-of-way problems prevented power lines from reaching the sanctuary until 1950. So the church leaders decided to improvise. They used generators and lamps along the wall to light the church during services.

Over the years Crab Creek Baptist continued to grow.

Church members celebrated their 100th anniversary in 1935 by building a monument with the names of all its pastors and charter members engraved on the sides.

The monument continues to be updated with the most recent pastor's name.

More buildings, classrooms and restrooms were added in the 1940s and 1950s.

A new sanctuary was completed in 1986 and a family life center was added in 2003.

Knox predicts the church will continue to grow and be an important part of the Crab Creek community in the future.

Says Knox: "We are excited about what the Lord has in store for Crab Creek."

<p>Just as they always have, members of Crab Creek Baptist Church will bring covered dishes, special desserts and their loving hearts when the church holds its annual homecoming celebration on Oct. 11.</p><p>What will be different this year is the sense of history that also comes with this second Sunday in October.</p><p>The church, which sits high on a hill off Crab Creek Road in Henderson County, first came together on Oct. 11, 1834.</p><p>Now, 175 years later, Crab Creek Baptist plans to celebrate its big anniversary on the very day the church formed those many years ago.</p><p>To mark the anniversary, the congregation has invited two former pastors to speak during two services before feasting on the traditional homecoming meal on the grounds. The day's theme is "To God Be the Glory."</p><p>"This church stands on Gospel," says the Rev. Brad Knox, the church's pastor. "That is why this church has stood the test of time."</p><p>Knox came to the church about a year ago after spending seven years working with young people at Reynolds Baptist Church in Asheville.</p><p>The kind, helpful congregation at Crab Creek made his transition to pastor of the 277-member congregation an easy move.</p><p>"The people are who they are," Knox says. "They are not people who put up a front. They love the Lord. They love this church. I believe I have been called here."</p><p>Homecomings at Crab Creek are usually packed houses with many members and others in the community attending services and sharing a meal. Knox expects an enthusiastic turnout this year as the church also celebrates its anniversary.</p><p>The morning services will include sermons from former pastors, the Rev. Guy Smith and the Rev. Scott Thompson.</p><p>Smith led the church for 20 years from 1984 to 2004. Thompson was pastor for about a year, from 2007 to 2008. Knox became the pastor in July 2008.</p><p>In the time that he has led the church, Knox has been impressed with the congregation's outreach to the community.</p><p>Crab Creek has offered an Awana program for nearly 20 years to its young people, ages 2 through 18. About 70 children from the community now participate in the program.</p><p>Awana is based in Chicago and works with churches from 100 denominations. It helps parents and churches throughout the world raise young people to know, love and serve Christ. It does this through fun programs that teach an enduring biblical faith.</p><p>While several churches in the area now have Awana, Crab Creek was one of the first in the region to offer the program to young people in the community, Knox says.</p><h3>Reaching out to others</h3>
<p>The church also reaches out to help its neighbors through the Angel Food program that allows people to buy low-cost packages of food once a month.</p><p>When church members hear of someone in need in the community, they offer support and assistance in any way they can.</p><p>"The church has a long history of being part of the community," Knox says.</p><p>In fact, that community spirit at Crab Creek is what first drew Gertrude Miller and her husband, Wyman, to the church shortly after they married in 1963.</p><p>"Our life centered around the church. Our family grew up in the church," says Miller, who now works in the church as a secretary.</p><p>"I think we are all anchored here because of our faith in Jesus Christ."</p><p>After so many years attending the same church with many of the same people she met as a newlywed, Miller says the congregation feels like family.</p><p>"You get close to people," she says.</p><p>The closeness of the church members is apparent most Sundays when many people stand in the parking lot chatting with one another after services have finished.</p><p>Members care about others in the church whether they are longtime members or new visitors, Knox says.</p><p>"We want to get to know you," he says. "There is something unique in a church that has close fellowship."</p><h3>Some history</h3>
<p>The church's close fellowship was evident almost from the beginning, according to a history written by Miller.</p><p>After organizing in 1834, the church began regular meetings at a new meeting house in Crab Creek in 1854.</p><p>The minutes of those early meetings are filled with accounts of members worshiping together, baptizing those making professions of faith and taking care of one another. "The church responded to issues of the day to keep the church family safe and in good fellowship," according to Miller's history.</p><p>Concerned for the health of its members, in 1900, the church suspended services and Sunday school for a month because of an outbreak of smallpox.</p><p>And over the years, many people have settled disputes with one another using biblical standards rather than courts of law.</p><p>The congregation at Crab Creek has proved it will survive despite hardships and inconveniences.</p><p>Church members began trying in 1927 to have electricity installed in the church. But right-of-way problems prevented power lines from reaching the sanctuary until 1950. So the church leaders decided to improvise. They used generators and lamps along the wall to light the church during services.</p><p>Over the years Crab Creek Baptist continued to grow.</p><p>Church members celebrated their 100th anniversary in 1935 by building a monument with the names of all its pastors and charter members engraved on the sides.</p><p>The monument continues to be updated with the most recent pastor's name.</p><p>More buildings, classrooms and restrooms were added in the 1940s and 1950s.</p><p>A new sanctuary was completed in 1986 and a family life center was added in 2003.</p><p>Knox predicts the church will continue to grow and be an important part of the Crab Creek community in the future.</p><p>Says Knox: "We are excited about what the Lord has in store for Crab Creek."</p>